Safety signal



Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES CLAUDE D. SWEENEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SAFETY SIGNAL.

Application filed npril 5, 1926. Serial No. 99,875;

This invention relates to new and useful 1mprovements in safety. signals, and more particularly relates to tratlic controlling signals of the tiltable type, adapted to be placed in streets at street intersections, and in other places where it is likely to be struck by a vehicle or other moving object.

An object of the invention is to provide a tiltable signal comprising an upright post having a socket member secured thereto adapted to receive a spherical protuberance fixedly mounted upon a supporting member, thereby providinga ball-and-socket support for the post whereby it may be tilted to substantially a horizontal position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tiltable safety signal for controlling trafiic, comprising an upright post having a concaved base member secured thereto 5 and adapted to be pivotally mounted upon a fixedly mounted ball-like. protuberance, and said base member having a plurality of spaced prongs integrally formed thereon and cooperating therewith to provide a socket adapted to receive the ball-like pro: tuberance to provide a ball-and-socket support for the post. I

-- A further object is to provide a supporting means for a safety signal of the above type, comprising'a base member having a plurality of prongs provided thereon and depending therefrom to provide a seat adapted to receive a ball-like protuberance providing a support therefor, and each prong having a spring connection with a fixed member whereby the post will normally be held in an upright position, and. whereby, when the post is tilted to an inclined position, it will quickly be restored to a normal upright position.

socketsupport for a 'tiltable safety signal comprising few parts, and is simple agitl inexpensive in construction and so constructed I that when the signal is tilted to an inclined position and released, it will immediately be returned to substantially a vertical position. A further object is to provide a device of the above character including a cylindrical tubular post having a plurality of reinforcing ribs longitudinally arranged thereon in spaced relation, whereby the danger of damage to the "post, when struck by a vehicle, will be greatly minimized.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and ac- A further ob ect is to provide a ball-and Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line of Figure 2 showing the signal tilted to an inclined position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2 showing a method of securing the flexible cables to the movable base member of the post; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4.

The improved safety signal featured in this invention comprises an upright post 6 having a base member 7 secured thereto by such means as the screws 48. The post 6 is preferably cylindrical andhollow as shown in Figure 5, and is adapted to receive the cylindrical end portion 9 of the base member 7 as shown in Figure 4, thereby provid- 1,599,928 PATENT OFFICE.

ing a very substantial connection between i post and base member.

.The base member 7 is preferably clawlike in form and comprises a pluralit of spaced prongs 11 having their inner aces arcuately formed to provide a spherical seat or socket 12 adapted to receive a ball-like protuberance 13, fixedly mounted upon a I supporting member 14, as particularly shown in Figure 4. The ball-like protuberance 13 is preferably integrally formed with the supporting member 14, and is supported by means of a plurality of spaced radial arms 15 connecting the ball with the annular ring-like supporting member 14. (See Figure 2.) The base member 7 is preferably provided with three prongs 11, and the base supporting member 14 is therefore providedwith a like number of radial arms 15 so that when the base member is mounted upon the protuberance, the prongs will be aligned substantially with the openings between the radial arms15 as shown in Fig- .ure 2. By thus arranging the prongs 11 with relation to the arms 15, the post may be tilted to substantially a horizontal position without danger of the prongs engaging the arms supporting the ball-like protuberance 13. In the drawings the base member 7 is shown as having three prongs, but it is to be understood that the number of prongs may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. The shape of the base member 14 may also be varied to suit conditions.

A feature of this invention resides in the means provided for normally maintaining the post 6 in an upright position upon the ball-like protuberance 13. Such means preferably consists in the provision of a plurality of members 16, preferably flexible,

having their upper end portions terminally secured to the base prongs 11 and their lower ends connected to plates 17 to which a plurality of s rings 18 arev secured. The lower ends of the springs 18 are connected to similar plates 17 having .similar members 19 connected therewith, the lower ends of which are secured to the wall of the easing 21 by such means as clamps 22. The casing 21 provides a support for the sup- -porting member 14 demountably secured thereto by means of brackets 23 shown in Figure 3. The casing 21 also provides a pit beneath the post 6 to house the above described mechanism. The prongs 11 are each provided with a channel 24 adapted to receive the upper ends of flexible cables or members 16 as shown in Figure 4. Each channel 24 communicates with a chamber 25 provided in the cylindrical extension 9 of the base member 7 into which the ends of the cables are inserted, as shown in Figure 4. The lower end of each channel 24 is preferably curved inwardly as shown in Figure 4 so that the members 16 will be concealed in the lower portions of the prongs as shown. The upper face 26 of the extension 9 is provided with a series of small teeth adapted to cooperate with similar teeth provided in a clamping plate 27 to secure the ends of the cables to the base member as shown. The clamping plate 27 is firmly secured to the extension 9 by means of bolts or cap screws 28. By thus firmly clamping the ends of the cables 16 against the upper face 26 of the extension 9, the

. cables will be positively prevented from becoming disconnected from the base member regardless'of the osition of the post 6. Also as a result of the members 16 being imbedded in the lower ends of the prongs 11, the device will function as if the members 16 were terminally secured to the prongs 11 and not to the upper face of the extension 9. By thus mounting the cables 16 in the channels 24 of each prong the point ofconnection between base member and cable will by spaced a considerable distanc e from the center of the ball-like protuberance, such spacing depending upon the diameter of the latter. ,By thus arranging the cables 16 with relation to the center of the protuberance 13, the movement of the cables 16, when the signal is being tilted, will be greatly increased, as shownin Figure 3, thereby causing the post 6 to more quickly return to its normal upright position after having been knocked to an inclined position as shown in the above mentioned figure. It will also be noted that the prongs 11 new arranged that when the post is tilted to an inclined position, substantially all of the springs 18 will be put under tension, thereby exerting a force upon the base member 7 which will quickly restore the post 6 to its upright position.

Means may be provided for centering the post when in upright position. Such a means is shown in Figure 4, and consists in providing a concaved seat 29 in the' upper portion of the protuberance 13 and provid ing a correspondingly shaped convexed projection 31 upon the face of the socket 12, adapted to be seated in the seat 29 as shown in Figure'4. This centering means is disposed in axial alignment with the post 6 as shown. When the'post is tilted from a vertical position, the projection 31 will be unseated from the seat 29 and will engage the periphery of the ball-like protuberance 13 until the post is returned to substantially a vertical osition, after which the force exerted by t e springs 18 will cause the pro jection 31 to. be seated in the seat 29 with the result that the post will be disposed in vertical upright position. By securing cables-16 to the prongs 11 as above described, the springs 18 will also function to prevent the post from rotating upon the ball-like protuberance 13, thereby causin said springs to have the dual function 0% maintaining the post in an upright position and also to prevent relative rotation thereof means preferably consists in securing to the periphery of the post, a plurality of a spaced reinforcing members 32, as shown particularly in Figure 5. These reinforcing members 32 function to protect the signal against damage when accidentally struck by a vehicle. A cover plate 33 is preferably mounted upon the upper portion of the casing 21 to provide a closure therefor.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will readily be understood that the ball-andsocket support herein described, is well adapted for use to support a traflic safety signal ofthe tiltable type. By connecting the members 16 to the base member 7 of the post, asabove described, the post, when mean-ea have shown the use of flexible cables 16 connecting the prongs 11 with the plates 17 to which the springs 18 are secured, but it is to be understood that if desired the plates 17 may be connected to the prongs 11 by non-flexible means having a pivotal connection with the lower ends of the prongs.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising in combination an upright post having a spherical socket at one end, a spherical protuberance slidably engaged by said socket, and means 'yieldably retaining said post in an upright position, and extending directly outwardly and downwardly from the lower portion of said socket.

2. A device of the class described, comprising an upright post having a spherical concaved seat in its base, a spherical protuberance receiving said concave seat to provide a pivotal support for-said post, and yieldable stay elements, each connected at one end to the base of the post, and extending downwardly and outwardly and attached therebelow in triangular pyramidal formation for the purpose set forth.

3. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, an upright post having a base member secured thereto, a plurality of prongs on said base member cooperating therewith to provide a concaved spherical seat, a ball-like protuberance adapted to be received in said seat to rovide a swiveled support for said u n ht post, and each prong having a yie da le connection with a fixed member at a point beneath said protuberance, whereby said post will normally be held in upright position.

4. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, an upright post having a base member secured thereto, a plurality of spaced prongs on said base memher and depending therefrom to provide a spherical socket, a ball-like protuberance adapted to be received in said socket to provide a swiveled support for said 'upr1ght post, a supporting member for said protuberance, and a channel in each prong adapted to receive one end of a flexible member, means for securing said flexible member to said base member and the other end of said flexible member having a yieldable connection with a fixed supporting member whereby said post will normally be held in upright position.

5. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, an upright indicat= mg member having a ball-and-socket connection with a fixed supporting member whereby it may be tilted to substantially a horizontal position, said ball-and-socket connection comprising spaced prongs movable with said upright post, a plurality of flexible members connected with said prongs, and spring elements interposed in said members and functioning to normally maintain said post in an upright position upon said supporting member.

6. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a tubular cylindrical post having a ball-and-socket connection with a fixed supporting member whereby it may be tilted to substantially a horizontal position, said ball-and-socket connection comprising a socket member secured to said post and movable therewith, a plurality of prongs integrally formed with said socket member and depending therefrom in spaced relation to receive a ball-like protuberance fixedly mounted upon a supporting member, and extensible means terminally connected with each prong and having their lower ends secured to a fixed member and adapted to normally maintain said post in an upright position.

. 7. A tiltable safety signal comprising an upright cylindrical tubular post having a socketed base member secured to one end thereof and adapted to receive a. fixedly mounted ball-like protuberance to provide a ball-and-socket support for said post, and yieldable stay elements each connected with the base of the post and extending down- .wardly and outwardly and attached below the post in triangular formation.

8. A tiltable safety signal comprising an tegrally formed on said base member and depending therefrom and adapted to engage the periphery of said protuberance, a plurality of flexible members adapted to be secured to said prongs to normally maintain said post in upright position, and a channel in each prong adapted to receive one of'said flexible members and extending the full length thereof, said channel having its lower portion terminating in an aperture whereby a portion of said flexible member will be concealed within said prong and whereby spreading of said flexible members will also be prevented.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of March, 1926. 

